Moonlighter is a beautiful game that combines simplified versions of two game types into one. It's a novel attempt that plays it too safe on both fronts, and is held back from being something truly fantastic because of its lack of variety.
I don't enjoy writing about bad games. I understand making games is incredibly difficult, and I'm not claiming I know how to do it. But this game should not have been released. Someone, somewhere along the line, should have made the call to cancel this game. There is nothing to be gained from playing Extinction. Don't bother at all.
The story centered on John Doe and Bruce Wayne (the Joker and Batman) is why you should play Batman: The Enemy Within. The rest of the characters and narrative are mediocre, but this interpretation of the clown prince of crime is so strong that it makes it all worth it.
There's a lot of content in Okami HD. Unfortunately, interacting with the wealth of characters, locations, and collectibles becomes more of a chore when the story and action is so repetitive. Despite the different coat of paint, each new encounter felt like the last. The colors began to fade around the halfway point, and the game just kept painting without adding anything new to the page.
I had a ton of fun playing Star Wars Battlefront II. It executes on presenting the Star Wars universe near-perfectly. The sights and sounds of lightsabers and blaster fire encapsulate every child-like midichlorian in your body. The campaign, while disappointing, is a small part of the complete package. There is enough content to keep you busy for dozens of hours, but the progression system may need an overhaul if EA wants to keep a strong multiplayer audience engaged.
Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom is the product of a small team trying to do too much and, ultimately, falling flat. It pains me to say it, because I saw the potential in Shiness way back when it was a fledgling Kickstarter upstart, but this is one of the worst gaming experiences I've had in a long time and I cannot recommend it to anyone that likes fun.
Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is an excellent fighting game with an amazing pool of characters and finely-tuned gameplay. Its original release in 2011 is a critical and commercial darling still enjoyed by fans and pros around the world, but there isn’t enough new content or technical upgrades in this edition to justify a purchase for anyone that isn’t already a devoted fan.
Neurovoider is retro in the best and worst ways. It’s brutally hard, simple to learn yet difficult to master, and is agonizingly repetitive. It’s fun for those looking for a challenge, but it isn’t for everyone.
Attack on Titan is an enjoyable experience that is worth a playthrough, but it could've been so much more. It surprises with solid combat mechanics and features some exciting and action-packed gameplay moments, but its presentation, story, characters and content outside of the campaign are severely lacking.
Samorost 3 is a sensational journey through a delightful yet deceptively twisted world where fairytale collides with science fiction, themes of addiction and power mix with lighthearted play, and the adventures of a little the gnome always kept a smile on my face.
With Episode 4 being the pinnacle, Republique is full of great story, fun characters, and a few twists and turns along the way. It's an engaging episodic adventure that suffers from mediocre gameplay mechanics and a camera system that is unique, but at times feels finicky and unpolished.
Amazing Discoveries in Outer Space is a unique amalgamation of several genres that does not come together in a cohesive way. The platforming and production value are rough, while the exploration is largely uneventful and monotonous.
This War of Mine: The Little Ones is a fun, yet difficult survival game that fans of Don't Starve, and the like, will most certainly enjoy. It takes a chance in telling the story of war from a rarely seen civilian angle, but ultimately doesn't deliver an engaging narrative. The addition of children doesn't add much to the original 2014 release besides a few new items to craft. And the potential for a great and addictive survival experience is hindered by a wonky combat system.
Broforce is a fun game, but it's overbearing and obnoxious tone made it difficult to play for more than an hour or so at a time. If you're a fan of 2D action games, and have an appreciation for action flicks, definitely check it out. Seeing characters like Brobocop and Broblade in detailed pixel form wreak havoc on their enemies is a joy. There is just not much else that Broforce can offer you once you've cycled through the characters.
The Escapists: The Walking Dead is a boring and uneventful game. It takes a mediocre game formula and slaps a cheap coat of licensing paint on it. As a The Walking Dead fan, a fan of puzzle games, RPG games and retro-style graphics, there is nothing I can say I enjoyed about this game.
Ultimately, Runbow disappoints. Bowhemoth is a fun distraction. Single-player is a pretty traditional and unimaginative series of levels that only major platforming fans will maybe enjoy. And online is a hit or miss (mostly miss) collection of modes that is fun for a little while, but falls under the shadow of the Wii U's insufficient online multiplayer ecosystem.
Trine 3 is an incomplete mess that feels like the game's creators just ran out of time (despite four months in Steam Early Access). The graphics, art style, and landscapes are stunning, but aren't enough to make Trine 3 a game worth your time.
I was a fan of the first Swords & Soldiers' fiery and rambunctious Viking hordes and their quest for grandeur and grilled meats, and I had high hopes for the sequel, but Swords & Soldier II wound up just being a dusty old lamp with no magic to speak of.
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes 2.0 feels like a failed attempt at rushing a game out to cash in on a trending genre, that ultimately suffers from too little development time and polish.